 Anand Philar
It was a reunion of sorts at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai as I bumped into the fiery Dhanraj Pillay after many summers.
He looked much the same - a tad heavier, but it became obvious to me that he hasn't changed much as a person.
The temper, still on short fuse, was, as always, just beneath the surface and his eyes still glow with pleasure as we chatted a bit about the "old days".
It was this very ground where Dhanraj had scripted the unforgettable 5-2 win against Pakistan in the rip-roaring SAF Games final, back in 1995, in front of a capacity crowd of nearly 25,000. In my book, that particular game remains one of the best ever played in India in the past 30 years.
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It was also the very ground where Dhanraj, enraged by a heckler, climbed into the stands after a match and nearly got engaged in a boxing bout before the crowd intervened and broke up the fracas. Thereafter, Dhanraj retired to his hotel room where I subsequently visited him to ascertain his version of the incident. The two of us were alone in the room, but Dhanraj wouldn't look at me as he sat staring into space with tears rolling down his cheeks.
It took a while before I could gently console him and make him speak. He was terribly upset with the crowd and declared that he would never again play in Chennai. Of course, that was said in the heat of the moment by an emotional man who demanded respect, but did not always receive it.
As we were chatting, a young reporter sought an interview, and Dhanraj, ever obliging, immediately consented. I looked on, quite fascinated by the awe that the reporter felt and could not hide while sitting beside the legendary forward.
I am not sure what the reporter asked, but it triggered a typical outburst from Dhanraj and the reporter perhaps wanted the earth to open up and swallow him.
"When you go to interview Sachin Tendulkar, won't you do your homework? You should have done the same with me. I am the Sachin Tendulkar of Indian hockey. So, you get your facts right. The other day, somebody wrote that I was arrogant. I want to tell the Media not to write such things about me," he thundered.
Of course, within seconds, Dhanraj's anger subsided, and he carried on answering questions.
So typical of him, I thought as he spoke at length about Indian hockey, while saying we did not need a foreign coach. He lambasted the selection process and explained how he was thrown out of the selection committee when he disagreed with the others.
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Yes, Dhanraj hasn't changed much even at 41, but is charming in his own way.
These days, he is at pains to present himself well, and his wardrobe is selected with great care.
On the ground, though, he has slowed down considerably, but his presence has a tonic effect on his mates in the Air India team. He came up with a few deadly runs, but not too often as he preferred to hang around in midfield and spray passes to his young forwards.
I was pleasantly surprised when he recalled our first meeting, back in 1991 when I met him in New Zealand where he was with the Indian team for the Olympic qualifying tournament.
The team doctor was insistent that Dhanraj did not have the stamina to play 70 minutes and so should not be in the playing eleven! A horrified coach, the late Balkishen Singh let rip in chaste Punjabi and told the good doctor to mind his business of tending to injuries.
Looking at Dhanraj, I could still sense his disappointment that his international career ended without an Olympic or World Cup medal.
The gold medal at the 1998 Asian Games was small consolation.
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Perhaps, if given a chance, he would readily don the Indian colours for next year's World Cup in an attempt to win the trophy, just like Tendulkar who has set his sights on the 2011 World Cup.
There are some similarities between the two great sportsmen.
Dhanraj's international career, like Sachin's, spanned about two decades and four Olympics. But time and opportunities have flown by, and Dhanraj can only look back wistfully.
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